Dolphins make five roster moves, dump Skylar Thompson, delay activating Chubb
The Dolphins on Saturday released quarterback Skylar Thompson, added reinforcements at receiver and on their defensive line and decided to hold off on activating outside linebackers Bradley Chubb and Cameron Goode.
A day after clearing one roster by releasing receiver Odell Beckham Jr., the Dolphins opened another by moving on from Thompson, who began the season as the team’s No. 2 quarterback but has since been supplanted by Tyler Huntley in that role.
Those two openings on the 53-man roster were filled on Saturday by receiver Grant DuBose (who came off injured reserve) and defensive tackle Matt Dickerson, who was promoted from the practice squad.
DuBose, claimed off waivers from Green Bay in late August, has been on IR since injuring his shoulder early in the season. Because Dee Eskridge is out Sunday with a knee injury and Beckham is no longer on the team, the Dolphins had only four healthy receivers on their 53-man roster before activating DuBose.
Miami’s receivers Sunday will be Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Malik Washington, River Cracraft and DuBose, who caught one of three targets for 13 yards in two September appearances for Miami.
Dickerson gives the Dolphins another option along their defensive line. Asked to pinpoint reasons for the Dolphins’ subpar run defense recently, defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver on Thursday cited several factors, including needing more production at backup nose tackle.
Starter Benito Jones and backup Neil Farrell have been the Dolphins’ primary nose tackles.
The 298-pound Dickerson, who joined the Dolphins practice squad in October, has 42 tackles in 36 games (all off the bench) for Tennessee, Atlanta and Kansas City. He played 190 defensive snaps in 12 games for the Chiefs last season.
Saturday was Day 11 for the 21-day practice window for Chubb, Goode and long-snapper Blake Ferguson, who were all ruled out for Sunday’s game. All three must be activated by the conclusion of those 21 days in order to play this season.
Chubb and Goode, who haven’t played this season because of major knee injuries sustained late last season, will remain on the physically unable to perform list for at least another week. Ferguson was kept on the non-football injury list for a ninth consecutive game.
Instead of activating Ferguson, the Dolphins instead elevated long snapper Zach Triner from their practice squad for Sunday’s game at Houston (1 p.m., CBS). Triner has now been elevated three times, the most permitted for any player in a season.
The Dolphins, who are dealing with injuries on their offensive line, also elevated offensive tackle Ryan Hayes for Sunday’s game.
Dolphins left tackle Terron Armstead is not expected to play on Sunday because of a knee injury; he’s listed as doubtful.
Right tackle Kendall Lamm is listed as questionable with a back injury, but Mike McDaniel has expressed optimism that he will play. Rookie Patrick Paul is expected to start at left tackle, and Jackson Carman would likely be in line to play if Lamm cannot.
As for Thompson, he appeared in 11 games and started four for the Dolphins over the past three seasons. He went 1-3 when he started, including a 34-31 playoff loss to Buffalo in January 2022, and had two touchdowns and five interceptions in his Dolphins career.
After Tua Tagovailoa was concussed in the Week 2 game against Buffalo, Thompson started Miami’s 24-3 Week 3 loss at Seattle but struggled and left with chest and rib injuries.
Since then, he appeared only for mop-up duty against New England but was yanked after two snaps after a fumbled exchange with rookie running back Jaylen Wright.
The Patriots returned that fumble for a touchdown, and McDaniel said afterward that he didn’t like how the team exited the huddle on that play.
Thompson could be re-signed to the Dolphins’ practice squad.
This story was originally published December 14, 2024 at 2:01 PM.
